Helianthus praetermissus

{{Short description|Species of sunflower}}

{{Speciesbox

|image =

|genus = Helianthus

|species = praetermissus

|authority = E.Watson

}}

Helianthus praetermissus is a rare and probably extinct North American species of sunflower, with the common names New Mexico sunflower{{PLANTS|id=HEPR5|taxon=Helianthus praetermissus|accessdate=6 July 2015}} and lost sunflower. It is known from only one specimen collected in 1851 in Cibola County in western New Mexico, and not seen since.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Helianthus%20praetermissus.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map][https://web.archive.org/web/20120330023151/http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist_single.php?SpeciesID=96 New Mexico Rare Plants, University of New Mexico, Helianthus praetermissus (Lost sunflower) ] includes description, ecological and historical information, and photo of the only known specimen

Helianthus praetermissus is (was?) an annual herb with a slender, unbranching stem 90 cm (3 feet) tall. It has (had) a single flower head with yellow ray florets surrounding red disc florets.